How can I set myself apart when applying for jobs?
I will be graduating this semester (Woohoo!) and am currently looking for jobs to gain work experience to act as stepping stones in building a career. I work as a server at a restaurant, but realize I need to focus on my future. To the jobs I have already applied to, there are many I have yet to hear back from. So I ask, what can I do to set myself apart when I apply for jobs? #business #business-development #hiring #entry-level #hiring-managers
4 answers
Pamela Mapelli
Pamela’s Answer
I would say a great way to start is volunteering. It shows that you care about your career enough to share your knowledge and experience. It also shows you are willing to collaborate, and this is a very valuable skill nowadays. You can volunteer online, remotely, and in many cases it does not take a lot of time from your routine. I think this is a way in which you can set yourself apart.
Thank you for the response! I used to volunteer a lot when I was in high school, but not as much in college. This seems like a great way for setting oneself apart!
Laiz
Kim’s Answer
Laiz,
The first thing I want to say is: don't get discouraged! The number of applicants per position is normally astronomical, due to the ease of the on-line application process. So be persistent!
As to setting yourself apart, just a few of my favorite pointers. Remember that the purpose of business is to Make $$$$. Show how you are going to make or save money for the company, through cost efficiencies, safety, regulatory compliance, sales, reducing employee turnover, etc. Your resume is not about you - it is about what you can do for the company. Make sure it is grammatically 100% perfect, and is visually appealing. (clean and crisp - not "artsy!") Write a professional cover letter, that shows that you actually know a little about the company, have done your homework, gone to the website, and maybe even researched the competitors. But be brief! And remember, not all hiring managers think alike. So just because something did not work once, does not mean it won't work the next time. Conversely, don't stick with something that isn't working!
One thing I do, and I encourage all youngsters to consider: I have a "brag" file. All my awards, customer service letters, performance appraisals. From that, I take one or two sentences from each letter, and have reduced it all to one page, double or triple-columned. It now spans over 30 years, showing that my customers and supervisors all think the world of me. I started attaching it to my resume, and that is when my phone started ringing. Why? Because now, instead of me saying " i am great" everybody else was saying it for me, through that document. A simple one page attachment, with quote, name, and date.
Best of luck!
Kim
Thank you so much for the response! I have never heard of a "brag" file before. These are awards and letters from past performances, so how could one obtain something like that when they are starting out? For example, would asking for letters of recommendation be a way to gather content for such a thing?
Laiz
It's a recommendation for the future. Some people submit many letters, and nobody reads them. That's why I go with one page. It's pretty easy to subtly prompt somebody to say something good about you. You send an e-mail that says "thank you for letting me volunteer at the nursing home. I enjoyed it and learned a lot." You can expect to hear "the patients all said great things about you, and it was obvious you have a special talent for connecting with older people." I suggest you save every positive email, letter, or evaluation you get, putting them all in a folder. They won't all be about customer service, some could be saying how you are always available to work overtime on short notice, etc. You will have many more opportunities to apply for jobs!
Kim Igleheart
And yes, it is okay to directly ask for such feedback as well!
Kim Igleheart
Bill Zakowski
Bill’s Answer
Make sure you focus on describing how you have generated results for the people you worked for. Too many job applicants describe the activities they completed but never describe the benefits. Things like: grew revenue, improved customer satisfaction, lowered expenses. Concrete measurable things
Andria’s Answer
I have interiewed a fare amount of people over my career. the ones that stood out to me the most were the ones that did research on the company they were applying for. it showed they took time to learn about what we did as a company. Make sure to be upfront and honest. Most people can tell if someone is not being genuine. if you dont have experience let them know you are a fast learning and you are willing to take an entry level position to start to gain the knowledge you will need to move of the ladder.
Ask for a low or unpaid internship. this shows that you are willing to do anything to gain career experience.
Good Luck!